Toronto-based designers Alison Nasmith and Laura Hart embarked, two years ago, on a unique mission: To redefine the Canadian jewelry market using recycled, reclaimed and conflict-free materials.

“Our first priority is offering a different product and experience to our customers,” the live beautiful founders said.

“We don’t believe we can do that by offering machine cut, dyed and polished stones that have been produced in bulk. So we begin with the material, and create pieces that are truly one of a kind.”

The design duo recently took time out to chat about Amish diamonds, drusy stones and looking ahead to a brighter future in the national and international jewelry markets.

How did you get into jewelry design?

We’ve been best friends since our first year at Queen’s University. We worked at a local jewelry store together, and would spend our days critiquing the pieces that came in and dreaming about making jewelry that we would want to wear.

After graduating and spending several years living in different cities, we were finally reunited in Toronto and decided to take an introductory metalsmithing class as a way to spend more time together.

We really enjoyed working through the creative process as a team, and when that first class ended, we decided to continue. We had a great response to our pieces from our close friends and family, and happened to both be making changes to our lives and careers. Out of all of that, live beautiful. was born.

Do you design/create all of your pieces?

Absolutely! This is a core value of our business. All of our pieces are handmade, and our materials and packaging are mostly supplied by small business owners and/or are recycled or reclaimed.

We design and make pieces collaboratively, but Alison Nasmith, our Creative Director, spends most of her time conceiving, experimenting, designing (and redesigning!) pieces.

Laura Hart, our CEO, ensures that the business is running efficiently and smoothly so that live beautiful. can grow and continue to give our customers a special and different experience, which is also a huge priority for us.

Many of your pieces feature rough-cut stones and raw metal. What’s the idea or inspiration behind those designs?

It’s important for us to know where and how our stones are cultivated. We have found that sourcing natural stones helps ensure our jewelry is ethical.

And in cutting out the middlemen, we can guarantee that we are not contributing to the exploitation of either people or the earth, and at the same time we get to share this information with our customers.

Our Audrey Collection, for example, is made from Herkimer Diamonds mined on an Amish Farm in Upstate New York. The Farmer allows his fields to be mined so that the rough stones don’t hurt their horses’ feet as they plough the land.

What is your favourite piece in your line?

It’s so hard to pick! If we have to choose, though, our Roxy Studs in gold, blush and charcoal, are probably our favourite pieces in our new line.

These drusy (a coating of fine crystals on a rock fracture surface) earrings really capture the look, feel and flavour of the line, providing grit, but also all the glamour of an editorial spread.

We made them for the modern woman who isn’t afraid to be noticed.

What’s the price point of your line?

Our price point is $60 – $300. We try to create and price our pieces so that there is something for everyone, although some are definitely worth saving up for!

We stay away from base metals and glass beads. You will get high quality materials and real gemstones from live beautiful., with the added benefit of knowing that you supported a company that shares your values.

Are there any jewelry designers you look up to?

Of course! There seems to be a new inspiration every day. Some of the designers we really admire right now, for either their aesthetic or their ethics, are Anne Sportun and Danni Jo.

What has been the reception to your line so far?

It’s impossible to fully express just how grateful and blessed we both feel. The reception and support we’ve received has been incredible.

We know how lucky we are to have this opportunity to put our passion and efforts into what we love. We hope people love it too.

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the “X” in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.